A circuit around the WA mid-west

[HokitikaGold]

Nice red dirt out there if you like that sort of thing. That tyre may not be repairable but I really am no expert.

That tyre is just fine for anyone with a modicum of bush skills...

 

[JohnM]

Nice red dirt out there if you like that sort of thing. That tyre may not be repairable but I really am no expert.

It was my tyre - but it’s just a flesh wound... (apologies to Monty Python). It had a good 16500 km life, sadly cut short In brutal style.

Pic was sent to @Daver6 from the top of Mt Augustus. I had to hike up there to get Telstra. Believe it or not, only some weird operator called Optus has coverage at the Mt Augustus tourist park.

They were probaly averaging about 7 tyre repairs a day at Mt Augustus. They buy in second hand tyres from Geraldton - I guess by the truckload. Most repairs are replacements.

 

[p--and--t]

They were probaly averaging about 7 tyre repairs a day at Mt Augustus.

 

[HokitikaGold]

Hoping JohnM is having a ball. Can't wait to hear his stories from this trip.

But I do hope he refrains from his usual expressed disdain at places that fail to meet his snobbish high expectations. I can imagine, already, that he veers just slightly off-path, due to his fancy tech guidance not quite being au fait with the West Aussie wilderness. Imagine him "trapped" in Meekatharra for a night! And his consternation of the pub not having high-end Uco Valley malbecs in stock!! The horror!!

 

[JohnM]

OK, been back a week but flat out. Time to get back into this TR from the beginning.

Canola was in full bloom, wheat filling and wildflowers blooming.

 

[JohnM]

Not a native wildflower. Paterson’s Curse.

 

[JohnM]

Murchison River crossing on the Mullewa-Carnarvon road.

 

[JohnM]

Then on to the site of a large historic shearing shed at Wooleen Station, unfortunately destroyed by a tornado a few years ago. It had a unique dome-shaped roof that obtained its strength from rolled corrugate iron, obviating the need for difficult to source timber trusses of large dimensions.

Wooleen is famous as a sheep station that has been destocked and is now a farm-stay business (About – Wooleen Station). It was featured in ‘Australian Story’ in 2012 ('It's this or we all walk off': Radical plan to bring bush back to life

).



The kitchen and mess hall, built in the same style, remains intact.

 

[JohnM]

I went into the homestead and had a look and drive around the property. @Daver6 and Mrs @Daver6 stayed there a couple of weeks later. I wanted to forewarn Frances and David of impending catastrophe…



Wooleen borders the Murchison River and they have a few camping sites there.

 

[RooFlyer]

Then on to the site of a large historic shearing shed at Wooleen Station, unfortunately destroyed by a tornado a few years ago. It had a unique dome-shaped roof that obtained its strength from rolled corrugate iron, obviating the need for difficult to source timber trusses of large dimensions.

So, not so strong, then And I see you've reverted to your old habit of not clearing away the weeds before you photograph the interesting bits.

 

[JohnM]

So, not so strong, then And I see you've reverted to your old habit of not clearing away the weeds before you photograph the interesting bits.

Where is the 'pest' button when it's needed?

 

[JohnM]

Then it was on to Murchison Settlement (‘The shire with no town’ Home » Shire of Murchison) to camp for a couple of nights.

Wooleen and Murchison Settlement are both on the Wool Wagon Pathway (The Wool Wagon Pathway - Outback Pathways). There is a small museum at Murchison, a war memorial, shire offices, sports ground, a campground with small shop and a credit card fuel bowser. And that’s about it.

 

[JohnM]

I was keen to check out the location of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder - Wikipedia) radio telescope site east of Murchison and beyond Wooleen. It made for a good day trip out from Murchison.

A bit of golgy, jeoly, geogoly, err, a few old boondies and a nice shady spot for lunch on the way.

Only one dish was visible from the entry.



Errabiddy Bluff is a few clicks west of Murchison.

 

[JohnM]

Heading further north on the Wool Wagon Pathway and making a stop at each interpretive site. A heritage gate.



A well, reminiscent of the Canning Stock Route (Way into the WA wilderness) and a little further on a lunch stop at the Wooramel River crossing.

 

[JohnM]

And a little further, the spectacular Bilung Pool.

 

[JohnM]

Continuing north. Another river crossing, the overgrown remains of the original wool wagon track and some fossil beds.



And the first encounter with the Kingsford Smith Mail Run (Kingsford Smith Mail Run - Outback Pathways) just south of Gascoyne Junction, where we stayed for the next two nights.

And some nice pics on the wall in the Gascoyne Junction caravan park tavern (which serves surprisingly good meals BTW).

 

[VPS]

Some of those wildflowers look stunning and great other photos. Next year maybe

 

[JohnM]

Next day, we did a day trip out to Kennedy Range NP (Kennedy Range National Park | Australia's Golden Outback, Kennedy Range National Park - Wikipedia).

 

[JohnM]

First off, a hike up Temple Gorge.

 

[JohnM]

We were to see a lot of these structures. Paging @RooFlyer to the white courtesy phone for an explanation - in words of one syllable…